Kansas City
Texas Tech
Texas Tech Breaks Away from Kansas City Late to Win, 9-1
3/9/2013 8:07:00 PM | Softball
With this loss, Kansas City dropped its third straight and is now 0-4 against Texas Tech this season.
To begin the game, pitcher Deanna Friese (4-5) got off to a fast start by striking out Texas Tech's first two batters. Although, catcher Sandy James extended the inning with a double off the center field wall, followed by an Adriana Perez RBI-single to left to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead. But, Friese and the Kangaroos kept it the deficit at one after striking out her third batter of the contest.
In the second, despite having a runner at second, Friese continued her strong start by picking up two more K's to keep it a one-run game. As for Friese's counterpart, pitcher Gretchen Aucoin (3-0) allowed no hits and retired nine consecutive batters through three innings, including picking up four strikeouts.
With Texas Tech still leading 1-0 in the third, James (3) connected for her second hit of the game, this time hitting a deep solo homer to center to increase her squad's lead to two.
Next inning, same score, Texas Tech had a chance to do some damage when outfielder Katelyn Williams led off the fourth with a triple to right-center. Yet, Kansas City's defense held steady by retiring the next three batters, including Friese picking up her sixth and seventh strikeouts.
But, the Red Raiders increased their lead to three in the fifth with another solo home run, this time coming off the bat of outfielder Mikey Kenney (6).
In the sixth, Kansas City started to build momentum, beginning with the squad's first hit of the game by outfielder Brooke Parker when she singled to short to lead off the inning. Next up, after infielder Jenna Rangel popped up to third and Parker stole second, infielder Liz Broyles reached first on an error by the Red Raiders as Parker moved third. Then, ensuing batter Marlee Maples was caught looking for Aucoin's ninth strikeout, but not before Parker scored after James' throw in attempt to catch Broyles stealing rolled into the outfield for an error.
In hopes of continuing to cut into Texas Tech's lead during the sixth, Aucoin forced outfielder Emily Ott to ground out to second to end the inning.
As for Texas Tech during the sixth, the Red Raiders broke the game open with six runs, headlined by a Kenney (7) three-run homer, her second of the day. To seal the game, James recorded her second double of the day as a runner from first came all the around to score.
Despite allowing 11 hits and eight earned runs, Friese finished the game with seven strikeouts, whereas Aucoin allowed one unearned run and one hit to go along with two walks and nine strikeouts.
Tomorrow, Kansas City will look to close the weekend on a good note with matchups against the Red Raiders (12 p.m.) and UT-Arlington (3 p.m.).
